Tape wrapping method, apparatus, and article

ABSTRACT

Tape, such as polytetrafluoroethylene tape, is wrapped onto a workpiece, such as the screw threads of a fitting, for fluid sealing purposes, by threading the tape from a tape roll to the fitting. The tape feed means includes an air-assist turbine as part of the tape roll with air fan blades being located inside a hollow core of the tape roll and with an air jet manifold preferably located in the spindle on which the tape roll core is rotatably mounted.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,879,001

Schovee 1 1 Apr. 22, 1975 i 1 TAPE WRAPPING METHOD, APPARATUS, 2.465.995 4/1940 Bergstcn 242/68.1

N ARTICLE 3.320342 5/1967 Vinson 156/187 Inventor: John R. Schovee, Pittsford, NY.

Assignee: Garlock lnc., Palmyra, N.Y.

Filed: Jan. 2, 1973 Appl. No.: 320,524

U.S. Cl 242/68.l; 242/68.5 Int. Cl B65h 17/02 Field of Search 242/55. 46.2. 68.1. 68.3,

References Cited UN1TED STATES PATENTS 1/1922 Foggncr 242/675 2/l94l Richardson 242/681 Primary E.\'aminerEdward J. McCarthy Attorney, Agent, or F irmSch0vee & Boston 57 ABSTRACT Tape, such as polytetrafluoroethylene tape, is wrapped onto a workpiece. such as the screw threads of a titting, for fluid sealing purposes, by threading the tape from a tape roll to the fitting. The tape feed means includes an air-assist turbine as part of the tape roll with air fan blades being located inside a hollow core of the tape roll and with an air jet manifold preferably located in the spindle on which the tape r011 core is r0- tatably mounted.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPRZZIQYS 3.879.001

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PATENIEBA ZZ H 3.879.001

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BACKGROUND'OF THE INVENTIQN 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to wrapping articles such as the screw threads of a fitting, with polytetrafluoroethylene tape, or the like, and in a preferred embodiment to an improved method, apparatus and article for wrapping such articles.

2. Description of the Prior Art This invention is an improvement over, for example, the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,342. In that patent, the tape is fed directly from a tape roll to a fitting to be wrapped by means ofa drive roller in driving engagement with the fitting. This known method is not satisfactory to feed from a large tape roll (suchas 1,000 yard roll), because the tape line drag, bearing friction, and the inertia of the tape roll (the then tape feed resistance" is hereby defined for use in the present specification and claims to include all such factors), are too great for the drive roller to overcome without either excessively stretching the tape such that when cut the cut end will draw back too far to continue feeding properly. or without permanently deforming the tape.

It has been suggested to use an air turbine to rotate the tape roll to overcome its inertia, with a stationary air jet source and with air fan blades on one side of the reel. However, this was cumbersome and the protruding blades added undesirable thickness to the feel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, apparatus and article that overcomes the problems discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION low and including a turbine wheel therein, and with an air jet manifold in the spindle on which the tape roll core is mounted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description thereof, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein:

FIG. I is a front plan view of apparatus including the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional, partial plan, side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is a partly cut-away, rear view of the apparatus of FIG. I with the cover 20 off;

FIG. 4 is a partial, side cross-sectional view of theapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are views of the air jet manifold 80, FIG. 5 being a front plan view, FIG. 6 being a crosssectional side view, and FIG. 7 being a rear plan view; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged views of the tape core 48, FIG. 8 being a rear plan view, and FIG. 9 being a side cross-sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT This invention is an improvement over the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,342 and in U.S. application Ser No. 129,472, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,761,038, filed Mar. 30, 1971 by DuWayne W. Stauffer, entitled Tape-Wrapping Method and Apparatus; the disclosures in said U.S. Patent and U.S. Patent application are incorporated herein by reference. a

With reference now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the basic features ofa pneumatically operated -tape wrapping machine 10 which accepts a tape roll,

such as a 1,000 yard tape roll 12, for tape wrapping a workpiece, suchas the screw threads of a fitting 14. The machine 10 includes a base plate 16, a front mounting plate 18, a housing cover 20, and a handle 22.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the various operative parts or stations of the machine 10 are: I a workpiece (fitting 14) holder 30; II a finger assembly 32 for pushing the tape 33 into locking engagement inbetween the fitting l4 and a drive roller 34; III a tape reserve means 36 for providing a supply or reserve of tape (which reserve presents relatively low tape feed resistance as compared to that of the tape roll 12) from which tapecan be easily and quickly fed by power roller 34, upon demand, directly to the fitting 14; IV a primary t'ape feeding means (comprising the drive roller 34) for feeding tape from the tape reserve means 36 to the fitting 14; and V a secondary tape feeding means for feeding tape from the roll 12 to the tape reserve means 36 [the secondary tape feeding means comprises an air-assist impulse turbine 42 (see FIG, 2) and a primary inertial element (comprising a piston 52) in the tape reserve means 36].

Before describing the above-listed parts or stations in detail, the manner in which the tape 33 is threaded through the machine 10 will now be briefly described. The tape roll' 12 is mounted on a spindle 47 and the tape 33 is threaded through a tape funnel guide 37, into and out of the tape reserve means 36, around the three tape rollers 38, 39, and 40, and then to the finger assembly 32. After the fitting I4 is inserted in place and a start poppet 46 pushed, the finger assembly 32 pushes tape 33 in-between the fitting I4 and the drive roller 34, the drive roller 34 then pulls tape out of the tape reserve means 36 and wraps it onto the fitting 14, while the secondary tape feed means feeds tape from the tape roll 12 to the tape reserve means 36 to re-fill it for use in wrapping the next subsequent fitting.

The above-listed parts of the present invention will now be discussed in detail in same order as listed above.

I. The Workpiece Holder 30 Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the workpiece holder 30 comprises basically a pair of rotatable rollers 350 and 352, rotatably mounted on a pivot plate 354, pivotally connected to the front mounting plate 18 by means of a pivot pin 356. A shaft 358 is connected to the pivot plate 354 and extends from the rear of the pivot plate 354 through a vertical slot 360 in the mounting plate 18 into position above a plunger 362 of a spring box 364 including a compression spring 366 for upwardly biasing the plunger 362. A depressing rod 368 is mounted on the slide block assembly 204, in line with the plunger 362 and above the shaft 358. When the piston rod 202 is down (FIG. 3). the depressing rod 368 pushes the shaft 358 down. thus pivoting the pivot plate 354 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, to provide sufficient clearance between the drive roller 14 and the rollers 350 and 352, to allow a fitting 14 to be easily placed into position on top of the rollers 350 and 352. When the start poppet 46 is pushed. the piston rod 202 rises, along with the depressing rod 368, allowing the plunger 362 to push the shaft 358 up, pivoting the pivot plate 354 counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 1) thus forcing the fitting 14 into driving engagement with the drive roller 34. Similarly, after wrapping of the fitting 14 is completed, the pivot plate is lowered allowing easy removal of the wrapped fitting 14. An adjustable stop 370 is mounted on plate 18 above the pivot plate 354. The pivot plate 354 is shown in FIG. 1 in its up or closed position for holding and wrapping a fitting 14.

II. The Finger Assembly 32 Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the finger assembly 32 includes a tape feed-block 250 having a groove 252 in its upper surface through which the tape 33 passes on its way to the fitting 14. A finger 104 is mounted for back and forth sliding movement in the groove 252, and may have a serrated bottom for pushing the tape 33 to locking engagement inbetween the fitting 14 and the rotating drive roller 34. The drive roller 34 then takes over the feeding of the tape 33 to the fitting l4 and the finger I04 slides over the tape 33 and back to the left (as viewed in FIG. 1) in preparation for feeding tape to the next fitting to be wrapped.

In addition to the above-described structure, the apparatus employs a bobbin assembly 320 (see FIG. I), described in said U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 129,472, filed Mar. 30, I97] and incorporated herein by reference. The bobbin assembly 320 includes a support 322 and an idler roller 324 rotatably mounted on the support 322. The bobbin assembly 320 is rigidly connected to a shaft or pin 326, and the finger 104 is pivotally connected to a pin 222, which pins 326 and 222 extend through a slot 224 in the plate 18 and are rigidly connected to a slide arm 218 (see FIG. 3). A small compression spring 328 is positioned between the support 322 and the finger 104, to spring bias the finger 104 (clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1 about its pivot pin 222) into contact with the tape 33 in the groove 252.

As the finger 104 moves to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 to feed the tape 33 to the fitting 14, the simultaneous movement to the right therewith of the bobbin assembly 320, releases tension on the tape 33, to aid the finger 104 in feeding the tape 33 to the fitting 14 without the need for withdrawing any tape from the tape reserve means 36.

After the tape 33 is fed to the fitting 14 by the finger 104, the finger 104 then slides to the left (as viewed in FIG. 1) over the tape 33. The finger 104 can minutely pivot in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 1), against the force of the small spring 328.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, an air cylinder 200 is mounted on the base plate 16 for vertically reciprocatingly moving a piston rod 202 and a slide block assembly 204. A pair of vertical guide posts 206 and 208 are connected to the mounting plate 18 by means of a pair of guide post brackets 210 and 212. The piston rod 202 always starts in its lower position and begins to move upwardly when the start poppet 46 is depressed.

The piston rod 202 then reverses direction and moves downwardly when a switch arm 214 and roller 215 closes a switch 216, by the arm 214 being moved to the right (as viewed in FIG. 3) when the roller 215 is contacted by the slide block assembly 204. The piston rod 202 stops its downward movement when depressing rod 368 (FIG. 4) hits the shaft 358. At this point a pneumatic four-way valve (not shown) has equal pressure in all four lines. The start poppet 46 takes pressure off of one side and starts the piston moving and the switch 216 turns the four-way valve and reverses the pressure to reverse movement. Known valves such as made by Aro. Corp. can be used, as will be understood by any one skilled in the art. The means for moving the finger 104 of the finger assembly 32 to the right (as viewed in FIG. 1) include an elongated slide arm 218 pivotaly connected to the plate 18 at 220, and a shaft 222 connecting the lower end of the slide arm 218 to the finger I04 and extending through the slot 224 in the front mounting plate 18. A compression spring 225 maintains the finger 104 in its leftmost position (as viewed in FIG. 1 except when the finger 104 is moved to the right as described immediately below.

The spring 225 is fitted over a rod 240 between a block 242 mounted on the plate 18 and a collar 244 connected to one end of the rod 240. The other end of the rod 240 slides through the block 242 and is connected to the slide arm 218.

A slide yoke 226 is mounted on plate 18 at a pivot connection 228 and includes bifurcated arms 230 encompassing the pin 222 therebetween. The slide yoke 226 includes a yoke flipper 232 pivotally connected thereto at 233 and having a yoke roller 234 attached to the terminal end thereof. The yoke flipper 232 is spring biased to its position shown in FIG. 3. The flipper 232 can flip" or rotate clockwise as shown in FIG. 3 without causing the slide yoke 226 to move. However, when the flipper 232 is forced counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 3) by a cam 236, the slide yoke 226 is caused to pivot counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 3), thus forcing the pin 222 and the finger 104 to the left (or to the right as viewed in FIG. 1) to feed tape 33 to the fitting 14. The cam 236 is mounted on a gear rack 237 connected to the slide block assembly 204, for actuating the flipper 232 and in turn the slide yoke 226 and finger 104, during the first part of the downward travel of the piston rod 202.

A gear rack 237 is connected to the slide block assembly for rotating the drive roller 34, and means for actuating the knife 146 are connected to slide bar assembly 204 essentially as described in US. Pat. No. 3,320,342, incorporated herein by reference.

III. The Tape Reserve Means 36 Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tape reserve means 36 comprises a cylindrical tube 50 in which a piston 52 is positioned for vertical reciprocating movement. The tube 50 is mounted on the base plate 16 by means of a bracket 54 and is maintained vertical by a bracket 56 connected to the front plate 18. a sensor 60 (such as an interruptable jet sensor made by Norgren Company) is located at the bottom of the tube 50 and includes a switch for controlling the flow of air to the air-assist impulse turbine 42 and to the brake 64, as will be described in more detail below.

The top of the piston 52 is fitted with a roller 66 by means of a spring clip bracket 68 connected to the piston 52 and an axle pin 70 (on which the roller 66 is freely rotatably mounted) extending through an axial bore in the piston 52 and extending between holes in opposing legs of the bracket 68. The axle pin 70 has shoulders (not shown) at each end to keep the legs of the bracket 68 away from the roller 66. The bottom of the piston 52 is provided with an extension 72 that extends into and is sensed by the sensor 60. When the piston 52 is at the bottom of the tube 50 (it may if desired rest on the sensor 60), the air lines controlled by the switch in the sensor 60 are closed. Once the extension 72 of the piston 52 is lifted out of the sensor 60, by the drive roller 34 calling for tape from the tape reserve means 36, the switch in the sensor 60 simultaneously opens the air lines to the turbine 42 and to the brake 64 (described below in Section V).

The tube 50 constrains lateral motion of the piston 52, but permits axial (which is vertical motion in the preferred embodiment shown) and rotational motion. The tube 50 has a vertical slot 74 (having a horizontal upper section 76) through which a lock 78 slidably extends for raising the piston 52 up to a position such that the roller 66 is above the top of the tube 50 to facilitate threading of the tape 33 through the roller-fitted piston 52.

Both the mass and the weight of the roller-fitted piston 52 are functional. The piston 52 (and more particularly the mass thereof) constitutes the primary inertial element, the inertia of which must be overcome when the machine suddenly calls for tape 33. The weight of the piston 52 aids the air-assist impulse turbine 42 in rotating the tape roll 12 to feed tape to the tape reserve means 36. The linear inertia of the primary inertial element 52 is, of course, much less than that of the combined rotary inertia of the secondary inertial element (comprising the spindle 47 and the tape roll 12 including a core 48 and, for example, a 1,000 yards length of tape wound thereon, all of which together may weigh several pounds). The weight of the primary inertial element (the piston 52) is preferably of the order of several ounces. The height of the tube 50 is designed such that the piston 52 never reaches the top of the tube 50 during wrapping. I I

IV. The Primary Tape Feed Means The primary tape feed means is the drive roller 34, and this is fully described in US Pat. No. 3,320,342 (see, for example, FIG. 5 thereof showing the gear rack 36), and such means need not, therefore, be described in detail here. Once the finger assembly 32 has pushed the tape 33 in-between the drive roller 34 and the fitting 14, the drive roller 34 takes over and pulls the necessary amount of tape 33 from the tape reserve means 36, against the relatively low inertia or tape feed resistance of the piston 52 therein.

V. The Secondary Tape Feed Means Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, and 5-9 the secondary tape feed means comprises the air-assist impulse turbine 42 and the primary inertial element (the piston 52), for rotating the tape roll 12 to feed tape into the reserve tube 50, as it is or after it has been withdrawn from the tape reserve means 36 by drive roller 34 for wrapping a fitting 14 (except possibly for a very small fitting 14, the secondary tape feed means is operating simultaneously with the drive roller 34).

The turbine 42 includes an air jet manifold block 80 (see FIGS. 2, and 5-7) having air-jet ports 82 and passageways 83 for directing air toward a vaned or bladed 'turbine wheel 84 (sec FIGS. 2, 8 and 9) for rotating the turbine wheel 84. The inside diameter of the turbine wheel 84 is slightly greater (for example, preferably by about Vs inch) than the outside diameter of the manifold block 80.

The manifold block 80 is mounted on the front of the plate 18 by means of a socket head cap screw 86. FIGS. 5-7 show the semi-circular manifold block 80 having a semi-circular internal manifold chamber 88 communicating with a plurality of cireumferentially evenly spaced-apart air-jet ports 82 by means of a plurality of passageways 83. The passageways 83 are preferably at an angle of about degrees to a radial from the center of the block 80. The block 80 includes a larger bore 92 communicating with the chamber 88, with a hole 94 I through the plate 18, and with an air tube 96 connected by a suitable fitting 98 to the plate 18 at the hole 94. The manifold block 80 also includes an internally threaded bore 100 for mounting the spindle 47 to the block 80 by a screw 101.

Regarding now the turbine wheel 42, it forms an integral part of the overall structure of the tape roll 12. The tape roll 12 includes a length of tape 33 wrapped onto the core 48. The tape roll 12 is mounted on the machine 10 by sliding the core 48 over the spindle 47 and locking the tape roll 12 thereto by means of a latch means 102.

The core 48 portion of the tape roll 12 comprises basically a cylinder on which the tape is to be wound and a turbine wheel 84. Specifically, the core 48 comprises a hollow, cylindrical tube or spool 106, on which the tape 33 is wound, and two hollow, cylindrical or ringshaped hubs 108 and 110 integral with the spool 106 preferably by being permanently connected to the tube 106 at the ends thereof. Each of thehubs 108 and 1 10 have an innermost section (109 and 111, respectively) having an internal cylindrical surface (113 and 115 re spectively) that provides a close sliding fit over the hubs 116 and 118 respectively, of the spindle 47. The

outer ring includes a recess, preferably an annular groove 112 on its outer radial force for receiving the latch 102 for holding the tape roll'l2 onto the spindle 47 of the machine 10, and also includes a shoulder 107 to properly axially position the roll 12 on the spindle 47, with the turbine wheel 84 of the inner hub 108 in direct, radially, spaced-apart, overlying relation to the outer semi-cylindrical surface 81 of the manifold 80. The inner hub 108 includes the turbine wheel 84 as a part thereof (see FIGS. 8 and 9) and includes a plurality of equally cireumferentially spaced-apart, radially extending air fan blades 114, each preferably positioned in a plane parallel to and passing through the axis of the core 48. The blades 1 14 extend radially from an inside surface 117 of the hub 108 only partway through the hub 108, such that the spaces or grooves 121 defined therebetween have a depth less than the thickness of the hub. The blades 114 extend axially (or longitudinally) from the inner surface 119 of the hub 108 only partway through the hub 108, such that the grooves 121 between the blades 114 are enclosed on two sides (i.e., on the radial and axial outside sides thereof). When the tape roll 12 is mounted on the spindle 47, and jets of air are impinged upon or directed against the blades 114, the tape roll 12 is caused initially to rotate by the force of the blades.

When the air-asset turbine 42 is activated (compressed air discharges from the nozzle block or manifold 80 and impinges upon the vanes or blades 114 of the turbine), a force is generated whereupon the tape roll 12 is given a slight rotary motion. The impulse of the turbine 42 acts in consonance with the weighted piston 52 in continued feeding of the tape called for, until the tape reserve means 36 is re-filled.

The line pressure is preferably adjusted (by means of knob 330 see P16. 2) such that the impulse forceis sufficient to initiate rotation of the tape roll 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the spindle 47 includes a pair of end hubs 116 and 118 held spaced apart by a hollow cylindrical spacer 120, and connected together by a plurality of screws 122. The spring biased core latch means 102 is connected to the hub 118 as shown in FIG. 2. Each of the hubs 116 and 118 has a bearing 124 and 126 press-fitted therein for rotatably mounting the spindle 47 on the screw 101 connected to the manifold block 80.

The secondary tape feed means includes the abovedescribed air-assist impulse turbine 42, for starting the tape roll 12 rotating, and also includes the primary inertial element of the piston 52, the weight of which piston 52 causes the rotating tape roll 12 to keep rotating until the piston 52 descends to the bottom of the tube 50 and the extension 72 is sensed by the sensor 60. The sensor 60 then switches off air to the turbine 42. The sensor 60 is connected to an air inlet tube 130 coming from an air line anchor block 131. The sensor 60 is connected to an air tube 96 for feeding air to the turbine 42 and also to an air tube 132 connected to the brake 64. The sensor 60 includes a switching means, for opening and closing communication between air inlet line 130 and the two air lines 96 and 132, as well as a sensing means that senses the presence of the extension 72 of piston 52 for operating the switch.

The spring-loaded brake 64 (see FIG. 2) associated with the secondary feeding means will now be described. The brake 64 is mounted on the front plate 18 just above the manifold block 80 (in the cut-out portion thereof within the circular envelope of the manifold block 80), whereby a brake shoe 134 can move forward into contact with the hub 116 of the spindle 47 to stop rotation of the tape roll 12. The brake shoe 134 is spring-biased into contact with the hub 116 preventing rotation thereof. However, when the extension 72 lifts out of the sensor 60, air is fed to the brake 64 forcing the brake shoe 134 back out of contact with the hub 116, against the force of the spring, to allow rotation of the tape roll 12.

OPERATION The sequence of events relating to the operation of the above-described apparatus and of the primary inertial element 52 and the secondary inertial elements (roll 12 and spindle 47) and the air-assist turbine 42 is as follows:

1. Upon insertion on the workholder 30 of a fitting 14 to be wrapped, and actuation of the start poppet 46,

air jets against the the tape 33 is advanced by the finger 104 to the mating 6 surfaces between the drive roller 34 and the fitting 14. Up to this point, no advancement of tape from the reserve in tube 50 or from the supply roll 12 is required.

2. Upon tape feeding rotation of the drive roller 34, tape 33 is rcquisitioned from the tape reserve in tube 50, whereupon the primary inertial element 52 ascends, fluidic sensor 60 is activated, and linepressure air releases the springloaded brake 64 and simultaneously air jets impinge upon the blades 114 of the turbine wheel 84 to initiate rotation of the tape roll 12.

3. The action of the turbine 42 along with the weight of the primary inertial element 52 are sufficient to sustain rotation of the tape roll 12.

4. Upon rotation of the tape roll 12 and the conse' quent unwinding of tape 33 therefrom, the weight 52 descends to the bottom of the tube 50 where it is sensed by the sensor 60 which then simultaneously shuts off air to the turbine 42 and to the brake 64; the brake 64 being automatically reapplied. This completes the wrapping sequence, and the wrapped fitting 14 may then be removed and another fitting inserted.

The above detailed description is that of the presently preferred mode of the present invention, however, various modifications can be made therein. Other means can be used in place of the preferred turbine 42. For example, instead of using an air turbine, an electric or other type of motor can be used in conjunction with drive means on the interior of the core 48 in the location of the turbine wheel 84. The drive means can be, for example, gear teeth or simply a high friction surface to cooperate with a high friction motor driven drive roller. In either case the motor would be preferably mounted on the front mounting plate 18 for driving a drive roller located about where the airjet ports 82 of the manifold block are positioned. The drive roller can have gear teeth or a high friction surface, for example, to cooperate with the drive means connected to the core 48.

When using a turbine wheel, other shapes and types of turbine blades than that shown in the drawings can be used on the core 48; they are preferably completely inside the core 48 as shown, that is, they are preferably located axially completely within the axial ends (i.e., the inner surface 119 and the corresponding outer surface not numbered) of the core. The blades can also project outwardly a small distance from the core, if desired. The passageways 83 and blades 114 can be at other angles than those shown in the drawing of the preferred embodiment. The present invention can alternatively use the improvement (relating to reducing the length of the stroke of the gear rack) described in U.S. Ser. No. 129,472, filed Mar. 30, 1971, by Du- Wayne W. Stauffer, for Tape-Wrapping Method and Apparatus. This invention can also be useful in wrapping other threaded or unthreaded pieces such as screws, bolts, rods, etc., for purposes other than or in addition to fluid sealing.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that'variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. An article comprising:

a core adapted to be wound with a length of wrapping tape and adapted to rotatably release said tape,

said core including:

i. a substantially cylindrical outside diameter surface upon which said wrapping tape can be wound; and

. said core being at least partially hollow and having a chamber therein. and said core including means for mounting said core on a spindle and drive means connected to said core and located in said chamber for use in rotating said core, said drive means being separate from said mounting means and being located so as to be out of contact with a spindle when mounted thereon and for responding to a driving force separate from said spindle.

2. An article comprising:

a. a core adapted to be wound with a length of wrapping tape and adapted to rotatably release said tape, said core including:

i. a substantially cylindrical outside diameter surface upon which said wrapping tape ean be wound; and

ii. said core being at least partially hollow and having a chamber therein, and including drive means connected to said core and located in said chamber for use in rotating said core, said drive means comprising a plurality of air turbine blades.

3. The article according to claim 2 including a length of polytetrafluoroethylene screw thread wrapping tape wound on said outside diameter surface of said core.

4. The article according to claim 2 wherein said blades are connected directly to and extend approximately radially inwardly from said inside diameter surface.

5. The article according to claim 4 wherein said blades are located entirely within the axial ends of said core.

6. The article according to claim 5 including a length of polytetrafluoroethylene screw thread wrapping tape wound on said outside diameter surface of said core.

7. An article comprising:

a. a core adapted to be wound with a length of wrapping tape and adapted to rotatably release said tape, said core including:

i. a substantially cylindrical outside diameter surface upon which said wrapping tape can be wound; and

ii. said core being at least partially hollow and having a chamber therein, and including drive means connected to said core and located in said chamber for use in rotating said core, and a length of polytetrafluoroethylene screw thread wrapping tape wound on said outside diameter surface of said core.

8. in an apparatus for feeding wrapping tape from a rotatably mounted tape roll to a workpiece to be wrapped with a length of the tape, said apparatus including; a primary tape feeding means for feeding tape to the workpiece and a secondary tape feeding means for initiating rotation of said tape roll preliminarily to the operation of said primary tape feeding means, the improvement wherein said tape roll includes a core having an outside diameter surface adapted to receive tape to be wound thereon and a hollow chamber inside of said core and drive means connected to said'core and positioned in said chamber for cooperating with stationary drive means on said apparatus for initiating rotation of said tap roll, means for mounting said core on a spindle and said drive means being separate from said mounting means and being located so as to be out of contact with spindle when mounted thereon and for responding to a driving force separate from said spindle.

9. In an apparatus for feeding wrapping tape from a rotatably mounted tape roll to a workpiece to be wrapped with a length of the tape. said apparatus including: a primary tape feeding means for feeding tape to the workpiece and a secondary tape feeding means for initiating rotation of said tape roll preliminarily to the operation of said primary tape feeding means, the improvement wherein said tape roll includes a core having an outside diameter surface adapted to receive tape to be wound thereon and a hollow chamber inside of said core and drive means connected to said core and positioned in said chamber for cooperating with stationary drive means on said apparatus for initiating rotation of said tape roll, and wherein said secondary tape feeding means comprises an air-assist turbine including a stationary air jet manifold and wherein said drive means in said core chamber comprises a plurality of air fan blades.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said core includes a cylindrical inside diameter surface and wherein said air fan blades are equally spaced around said inside diameter surface and project radially inwardly therefrom terminating short of the axis of said core.

1 l. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said primary tape feeding means and said turbine are means for intermittently feeding tape and for intermittently initiating rotation of said tape roll, respectively, and including a spindle on which said core is mounted and wherein said air jet manifold is in said spindle with air discharge orifices located on said spindle within the axial ends of said core when said core is mounted on said spindle.

12. In the method of feeding tape from a tape roll to a workpiece to be wrapped with a length of said tape. including feeding tape to a workpiece by primary tape feed means and initiating rotation of the tape roll by a secondary tape feed means, the improvement wherein said step of initiating rotation comprises driving said tape roll through drive means mounted inside of a hollow core on which said tape roll is wound, and being in driven arrangement with a driving means separate from a spindle on which said core is mounted.

13. in the method of feeding tape'from a tape roll to a workpiece to be wrapped with a length of said tape, including feeding tape to a workpiece by primary tape feed means and initiating rotation of the tape roll by a secondary tape feed means, the improvement wherein said step of initiating rotation comprises driving said tape roll through drive means mounted inside of a hollow core on which said tape roll is wound, and wherein said driving step comprises impinging a jet of air from a stationary air jet manifold upon air fan blades mounted inside of said hollow core.

14. The method according to claim 13 including mounting said spool on a spindle and directing said air jet from an orifice located on said spindle and axially within the axial ends of said core when said core is mounted on said spindle.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein said feeding step comprises intermittently feeding tape to a workpiece, and said initiating rotation step comprises intermittently initiating rotation of the tape roll.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Q PATENT NO. 1 3,879,001

DATED A ril 22, 1975 |NV ENTOR(5) John R. Schovee It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 8, line l t, delete "tap" and insert therefor --tape-.

Signed and Scaled this twenty-first Day Of October 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

. RUTH c. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks "i i E i 

1. An article comprising: a core adapted to be wound with a length of wrapping tape and adapted to rotatably release said tape, said core including: i. a substantially cylindrical Outside diameter surface upon which said wrapping tape can be wound; and ii. said core being at least partially hollow and having a chamber therein, and said core including means for mounting said core on a spindle and drive means connected to said core and located in said chamber for use in rotating said core, said drive means being separate from said mounting means and being located so as to be out of contact with a spindle when mounted thereon and for responding to a driving force separate from said spindle.
 1. An article comprising: a core adapted to be wound with a length of wrapping tape and adapted to rotatably release said tape, said core including: i. a substantially cylindrical Outside diameter surface upon which said wrapping tape can be wound; and ii. said core being at least partially hollow and having a chamber therein, and said core including means for mounting said core on a spindle and drive means connected to said core and located in said chamber for use in rotating said core, said drive means being separate from said mounting means and being located so as to be out of contact with a spindle when mounted thereon and for responding to a driving force separate from said spindle.
 2. An article comprising: a. a core adapted to be would with a length of wrapping tape and adapted to rotatably release said tape, said core including: i. a substantially cylindrical outside diameter surface upon which said wrapping tap can be wound; and ii. said core being at least partially hollow and having a chamber therein, and including drive means connected to said core and located in said chamber for use in rotating said core, said drive means comprising a plurality of air turbine blades.
 3. The article according to claim 2 including a length of polytetrafluoroethylene screw thread wrapping tape wound on said outside diameter surface of said core.
 4. The article according to claim 2 wherein said blades are connected directly to and extend approximately radially inwardly from said inside diameter surface.
 5. The article according to claim 4 wherein said blades are located entirely within the axial ends of said core.
 6. The article according to claim 5 including a length of polytetrafluoroethylene screw thread wrapping tape wound on said outside diameter surface of said core.
 7. An article comprising: a. a core adapted to be wound with a length of wrapping tape and adapted to rotatably release said tape, said core including: i. a substantially cylindrical outside diameter surface upon which said wrapping tape can be wound; and ii. said core being at least partially hollow and having a chamber therein, and including drive means connected to said core and located in said chamber for use in rotating said core, and a length of polytetrafluoroethylene screw thread wrapping tape wound on said outside diameter surface of said core.
 8. In an apparatus for feeding wrapping tape from a rotatably mounted tape roll to a workpiece to be wrapped with a length of the tape, said apparatus including; a primary tape feeding means for feeding tape to the workpiece and a secondary tape feeding means for initiating rotation of said tape roll preliminarily to the operation of said primary tape feeding means, the improvement wherein said tape roll includes a core having an outside diameter surface adapted to receive tape to be wound thereon and a hollow chamber inside of said core and drive means connected to said core and positioned in said chamber for cooperating with stationary drive means on said apparatus for initiating rotation of said tap roll, means for mounting said core on a spindle and said drive means being separate from said mounting means and being located so as to be out of contact with spindle when mounted thereon and for responding to a driving force separate from said spindle.
 9. In an apparatus for feeding wrapping tape from a rotatably mounted tape roll to a workpiece to be wrapped with a length of the tape, said apparatus including: a primary tape feeding means for feeding tape to the workpiece and a secondary tape feeding means for initiating rotation of said tape roll preliminarily to the operation of said primary tape feeding means, the improvement wherein said tape roll includes a core having an outside diameter surface adapted to receive tape to be wound thereon and a hollow chamber inside of said core and drive means connected to said core and positioned in said chamber for cooperating with stationary drive means on said apparatus for initiating rotation of said tape roll, and wherein said secondary tape feeding means comprises an air-assist turbine including a stationary air jet manifold and wherein said drive means in said core chamber comprises a plurality of air fan blades.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said core includes a cylindrical inside diameter surface and wherein said air fan blades are equally spaced around said inside diameter surface and project radially inwardly therefrom terminating short of the axis of said core.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said primary tape feeding means and said turbine are means for intermittently feeding tape and for intermittently initiating rotation of said tape roll, respectively, and including a spindle on which said core is mounted and wherein said air jet manifold is in said spindle with air discharge orifices located on said spindle within the axial ends of said core when said core is mounted on said spindle.
 12. In the method of feeding tape from a tape roll to a workpiece to be wrapped with a length of said tape, including feeding tape to a workpiece by primary tape feed means and initiating rotation of the tape roll by a secondary tape feed means, the improvement wherein said step of initiating rotation comprises driving said tape roll through drive means mounted inside of a hollow core on which said tape roll is wound, and being in driven arrangement with a driving means separate from a spindle on which said core is mounted.
 13. In the method of feeding tape from a tape roll to a workpiece to be wrapped with a length of said tape, including feeding tape to a workpiece by primary tape feed means and initiating rotation of the tape roll by a secondary tape feed means, the improvement wherein said step of initiating rotation comprises driving said tape roll through drive means mounted inside of a hollow core on which said tape roll is wound, and wherein said driving step comprises impinging a jet of air from a stationary air jet manifold upon air fan blades mounted inside of said hollow core.
 14. The method according to claim 13 including mounting said spool on a spindle and directing said air jet from an orifice located on said spindle and axially within the axial ends of said core when said core is mounted on said spindle. 